Suction cleaner



Aug. 2E, i923.

.11,465,285 E. A. PETERSON y sUoTIoN CLEANER l Filed Feb. 7. 1921 2 sheets-Sheng Patented Aug. 21, 1923.

fr. ti i? EDWINA.- PETERSON, `or MADISON, WISCONSIN, AssIGNoR 'To VINCENT CAMARATA,

Maaate rarni'r caricia.

JOHN CODRICK, AND RAYMOND P. DANLEY, ALL F PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYL- VANIA.

SUCTION CLENER.

' Application led February 7, 1.921.y Serial No. 443,101.

To all 'whom t may concern:

Be it known thatI, EDWIN A. PETERSON, a citizen of the United States, residing at Madison,.in the county of Dane and State of Wisconsin, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Suction Cleaners,l of which the following is aspeciication. This invention relates to a suction cleaner of the portable type for cleaning rugs and the like.

One of-the objects of the present invention isto provide a suction cleaner which is power-driven,in its sweep ing movement,back -and forth upon the rug thus reducing the amount of energy required of a person to loperate the same to a minimum degree.

Anotherv feature of the invention resides in providing a suction cleaner of the abovementioned characterwherein a single motor actuatesvthe suction impeller, a sweeping brush and also moves the suction cleaner back and forth in its sweeping movement, thereby providing a very simple construcltion for performing the three functions si- ,25 multaneously.

Still another feature consists in the Inan-v ner of accomplishing the backward and forward movement of the cleaner without reversing the motor that drives the same.

in the provision of a' reducing gear between 'the motor and the wheels of the suction cleaner, whereby the motor is permitted to run at its normal high speed without drivingthe suction cleaner back and forth across the floor at an abnormal rate.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a phantom side elevation of a suction cleaner construction in accordance with' the present invention;

Figure 2 is a top plan view of the mechanism removed from the casing;

Figure 3 is a side elevation of the mechasuction cleaner constructed in accordance shown in section to indicate details and Figure 4 is a fragmentary elevation and part section of the reducing gearing.

In detail: g

The invention, as herein shown for the purpose of illustrating the principles of the same, comprises a casing indicated in general at4 A and Ahaving a barrel portion 1 forming a motor housing, an annular for- Another very important feature consiste` ward portion 2 forming an impeller housing and a sweeping head f Within the barrel 1 are pedestals 4 and 5 which mount a motor 6 having its shaft 7 concentric with the annular impeller casing 2. The forward end of the shaft 7 carries #the impellcr 8 of the usual form and which draws air through the sweeping head 3. "The front of the impeller casing 2'is closed vby a cover plate 9 which permits of access to the impeller. The screws 10 serve to connect the barrel 1 with the impeller housing 2. l -1 Within lthe sweeping head 3 is journaled a shaft 11 carrying a brush l2 with tufts 13,' said shaft also having a pulley 14 for purposesy to be hereinafter fully set forth.

Bearings 15 at the rear of the barrel l mount an axle 16 carrying a bevel gear 17 provided with a pulley face 18 which latter is connectedby a belt 19 to drive the pulley 14 on the brush shaft 11 as the suction cleaner or sweeper traverses the'ii'oor. vAt each end the axle 16 carries a .suitable wheel 2O keyed thereto. Meshing with. the

bevel gear 17 is a pinion 21 carried by asleeve 22 supported in a bearing 23 in the barrel 1. The top of said sleeve is flanged as indicated at 24 to receive and journal the gears 25 of a. reducing gearing, the driving gear 26nof which is carried by a shaft 27 journaled in the sleeve 22 and in abearing 28 see Figure 4. The upper end of the shaft 27 is provided with a friction cone 29.

The motor shaft 7 is extended rearwardly and has slidably keyed thereon, as indicated at 30, a spool 31 carrying opposite friction faces 32 and 33 of conical form and adapted to be engaged in driving relation with the friction cone 29.

In order to move the spool 31 so that either face 32 or 33 may be selectively engaged with the friction cone 29, a fork 34 engages in the slot 35 in the said spool and is connected with a' lever 36 pivotally swung at 37 intermediate its ends, one end 38 being connected as stated with the upper end of the fork 34p while the other end carries an armature 39`located between the poles of two solenoids 40 and'41. These solenoids are connected in circuit with a source of elect-rical lenergy and a double .throw switch 43 mounted on the -handle 44 and which 1s 0f the sliding type and may be operated by movement of the index finger, as clearly shown in Figures l and 3.

In operating the suction cleaner or sweeper, the operator graspsl the handle 44 in the usual manner with the index finger resting on the plate of switch lever 43 which is slidable on said handle to move the lever 45jinto contact with switch point 46 or 47, as` desired.

If the switch lever 43 be moved to contact with switch point 46, the solenoid will be energized with the result that armature 49 will be attracted thereto. and draw the conical face 32 into contact with the" friction conef29 driving the axle 16 in onei direction, while the opposite movement moves the lever 36 in the opposite direction to drive the machine oppositely. l

' However, it i-s to be noted, that no matiter which direction the machine is moving across the Hoor, the motor-4 i's always runnin in the same direction, while the brush 12 is reversed to run as it should run for the selected direction of movement of the suction sweeper.

A separate switch of any suitable type may be incorporated in the handle, as for instance a turn button switch as indicated at 57 for feeding current to the electric motor 6.

While in the foregoing I have described a specific embodiment of the'invention, it is nevertheless to be understood, that, in carrying the same into practice, various modilicationsv and arrangements of the driving mechanism or the axle and brush may be employed without departing from the scope of the invention.

I claim: i

l. A suction cleaner comprising a suction nozzle, fan chamber and transmission housing arranged in the order` named, a suction fan in said'chamber, traction wheels supporting said housing, and a motor driven transmission mechanism including a reducing gearing mounted in said housing for driving said fan andwheels simultaneously, the latter through the intermediary of said reducing gearing.

2. A suction cleaner comprising a suction nozzle, fan chamber and transmission housing arranged in the order named, a suction fan in said chamber, traction y'wheels supporting said housing,-a motor driven transmission mechansm including a reducing gearing-.mounted in said housing for driving said fan and`wheels simultaneously, the latter through the intermediary of said reducing gearing, a revoluble brush in. said suction nozzle, and driving connectionbetween said wheels and said brush, said transmission also including a reversing gearing.

3. A suction cleaner comprising a suction nozzle, a fan chamber anda motor casing arranged in the order named, a motor in said motor casing, a fan in said fan chamber operatively connected with said m`otor, ltraction wheels mounted on and supporting said cleaner and transmission mechanism including a reducing gearing operatively connecting the motor and traction wheels.

4. A suction cleaner comprisinga suction nozzle, a fan chamber and a motor casing arranged in the order named, a motor in said motor casing, a fan in said fan chamber operatively connected with said motor, traction wheels mounted on and supporting said cleaner and transmission mechanism including a reducing and reversing gearing operatively connecting the motor and traction wheels. V

In testimony whereof I affix my signature.

'EDWIN A. -PETERSGNl [Ls] Witnesses: y

KING MD BACON, FRANK JENKS.- 

